Apparatus for handling articles through treating liquids



June 11, 1935. 2,004,410

' APPARATUS FOR HANDL NG ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LIQUIDS J.- w. HOUCH El AL Filed March 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5 m kw;

INVENTORS Joan W Houcfl BY GLENJLDYE ATTORNEYS I J. W. HOUCH El AL June 11, 1935. 2,004,410

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LI UiDs Filed March 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN M HoucH BY GLEN ".DYE

June'll, 1935. w. HOUCH ET AL 2,004,410

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LIQUIDS Y Filed Marh 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Joan w. HoucH BYG-LEu MJDYE ATTORNEYS June 11, 1935. w, HOUCH ET AL 2,004,410

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LIQUIDS Filed March 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Jon-n4 \M Houcn BY GLE'N .DVE

TTORNEYS June 11, 1935. J. w. HOUCH ET AL 2,004,410

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LIQUIDS Filed March 9, 1931 5 s t -s t 5 WW I 9 INVENTORS Q JOHN W- HGUC BYG-LEN M. DYE

i Q g ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1 935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES THROUGH TREATING LIQUIDS John W. Houch and Glen M. Dye, Minneapolis,

Minn.', assignors to Pako'Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 9, 1931, Serial No. 521,277

27 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling articles through treating liquids. While the apparatus may be used for treating different kinds of articles in various liquids, one use in practice has been with sensitized photographic articles. As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is the practice in making photographic prints, to expose a print and then develop the same in a'developing liquid. The print is then 10 placed in a fixing bath for a certain length of time and is afterwards washed, preferably through several changes of water, and in several different vessels. It isv also the practice in developing prints, particularly in commercial establishments where a large number of prints are handled, to place the prints taken from the developing solution into a solution which is called a short-stop solution and which arrests any further developmerit until the prints can be placed in the fixing bath. It is also preferable, in a print handling apparatus, to have means for agitating the liquid and prints, as better results are thus obtained. It is desirable to have an apparatus which will receive the prints and which will automatically transfer the prints from one vessel to the other to be treated successively by the various liquids or solutions at properly selected and definite intervals. As the print handling machine is frequently placed adjacent the developing room and the prints are delivered through an opening or window from the developing room, it is desirable to shield the portion of the machine adjacent the developing room from light by a shutter which must be moved at certain times.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an apparatus for handling articles having vessels holding treating liquids together with means for successively discharging the articles from one vessel into the next appropriate vessel at definite intervals.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus having a plurality of liquid receiving vessels, a print holding member in eachof said vessels which contain the prints, and con- 45 fine them in the liquids in said vessels, said receptacles being movable from said vessels to a position to discharge the prints therefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with means for successively moving said receptacles from their respective vessels to discharge the, prints at certain definite intervals.

It is still further an object'of the invention to and from discharging position, means for oscillatprovide aprint handling apparatus comprising a supporting member, a plurality of liquid receiving vessels carried onsaid supporting member, receptacles respectively disposed in said vessels for holding prints in the liquids therein, means for moving said supporting member to agitate and move the liquid and prints in said vessels, and means for successively'moving said receptacles to discharge the prints therefrom into the next adjacent receptacle.

It is still another object of the invention to pro- 10 vide a. print handling apparatus comprising two or more liquid receiving vessels, a print receivingreceptacle in each of said vessels for containing prints in the liquid therein, means for shielding one of said vessels from light, including a partition adjacent said, vessel, means for moving the receptacles in saidvessels to discharge prints from one vessel to another, and means operated by said means and the movement of said receptacle for moving said partition to maintain the shielding efiect.

-It is still another object of the invention to provide a print handling. apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality of liquid receiving vessels carried in said tank, means for oscillating said tank and 5 vessels to agitate the liquid in said vessels, each of said vessels having a print receiving receptacle therein, said receptacles having arms respectively secured thereto, and an endless member movable adjacent said arms and having means for succes- 30 sively engaging said arms to move said receptacles to print discharging position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which said receptacles also have a sec- 35 0nd series of arms secured thereto, an endless member movable adjacent said arms and having means successively engaging said second-series of arms to move said receptacles back to normal position within said vessels. 5 40 It is still another object of the invention to pro-' vide a print handling apparatus comprising a supporting member, a series of liquid receiving vessels carried by said supporting member, a print receiving receptacle in each of said vessels movable to ing said supporting member to thus oscillate said vessels, means for moving said receptacle to and from'discharging position, said means for oscillating said supporting -member and said last mentioned means being carried by said supporting member and including a pulley, a stationary frame, a motor mounted on said stationary frame having a pulley.thereon, and a belt connecting said pulleys for actuating said oscillating means and the means for moving said receptacles.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tank in which are mounted a plurality of liquid receiving vessels, each having therein a receptacle adapted to hold and to discharge prints, together with means for oscillating said tank and moving said receptacles, comprising a driving mechanism including a clutch, a pair of endless members or chains driven when the clutch is engaged, and a novel timing mechanism for operating said clutch.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the device, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation as seen from the other side of the device, certain parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, certain parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device, certain. parts being shown in a different position in dotted. lines, as indicated by line 44 of Fig. 2;

- Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the device, some parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 8 is a partial view in side elevation showing a modification;

Fig. 9' is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. '7, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a partial view in side elevation of a dog used, shown on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, a frame is shown comprising leg members I0. While the leg members Ill may be of various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as castings which are of hollow or shell form,

having ball portions Illa at their lower ends and shoulder'forming flanges Illb at their tops which extend along the side of and are bolted to corner plates I I by the bolts I2 which also extend through the sides of horizontally extending channel members I3 disposed at opposite sides of the frame and having their flanges directed inwardly towards each other. The end plates II have portions Ila shown as integral therewith extending at right angles to the portions secured to the channels I3, said portions IIa. extending across the ends of said frame and tapering upwardly toward their upper ends, thus being of trapezoidal shape. The end portions IIa are apertured at their upper central portions androllers I5 are disposed in said apertures, the same being bored to receive headed and nutted bolts I6. The bolts I6 also pass through the ends of along tank I! shown as substantially rectangular in form and through a plate I8 bolted to vertical channel members I9 having their flanges directed inwardly toward the machine, there being one of these channels at each corner, said channels having their flanges at the inner side riveted to the sides of the tank I! (see Fig. 7) The tank I1 is shown as having an outwardly extending flange IIa. at its sides and the same is shown as having a. bottom with portions sloping toward the longitudinal center line of said bottom. The channels I9 also have secured to their webs at the inner sides thereof angle bars 2| having one flange extending vertically and parallel to the outer flange of said channels and side plates 20 are disposed between said flanges of the angle bars 2I and the outer flanges of the channels I9, said plates 20 having inwardly extending flanges 2011 at their top adapted to rest upon the flanges I'I'a of the tank II. A plate 22 extends over the top of tank I'Ia at one end and over the top of plate I8, the top of the latter plate being somewhat higher than the top of the tank, said plate thus sloping downwardly and inwardly, the same having a flange 22a at its outer end overlapping plate I 8 and having a downwardly extending flange 22b at its inner end. A plate 23 extends from the top of tank I! at the other end of the same and over the plate I8 at the adjacent end of the tank, said plate also sloping downwardly and inwardly and having a flange 23a overlapping plate I8 and having a downwardly extending flange 23b at its inner end overlapping the inner side of the tank II. The tank H has disposed therein a number of vessels 25 which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, are shown as rectangular in form, the same preferably being made of rubber or similar material or of metal lined with a coating of rubber compound 26 or substance adapted to resist the solutions used in photographic work. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that vessels 25 extend across tank I1 and are carried in definite positions by screws 25b passing through said tank. Tank I! at its bottom is spaced below the vessels 25 at its center. While various numbers of vessels 25 may be used. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as six in number and the three vessels at one end of the tank II, these being at the right as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, have water or liquid supply pipes 21 connected thereto and communieating therewith at their central bottom portions, said pipes being connected below said vessels in tank I! and connected by a pipe 28 to a flexible water supply pipe or hose 29. The connection between pipes 21 is also shown as including flexible sections 30 between the pipes 21 in the said vessels 25. This is necessary to allow for the variation in the. pipe fittings as vessels 25 are accurately positioned. Pipe 29 is connected to a suitable source of water such as the city mains. Tank I1 is shown as having a drain opening substantially at its central portion from which extends downwardly a hub or boss IIb into which is threaded a nipple 3| to which is connected a flexible drain hose 32 which will extend to any suitable drain or sewer. The vessels 25 have overflow apertures 25a. in their ends adjacent the tops thereof through which liquid may flow into the tank I I, and also have drain openings 250. Each vessel 25 has disposed therein a print receiving receptacle 33. While these receptacles may be of any suitable form for supporting prints in the liquid in vessels 25, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as comprising wire baskets of rectangular form in cross section transversely of the machine and of trapezoidal form in cross section longitudinally of the machine. The baskets 33 are plated with and entirely covered with rubber. This plating is done by a recently perfected process of electro-plating with rubber. Each receptacle 33 has secured at each end thereof, which ends are adjacent the tank I'l, an arm 34. The arms 34 are secured respectively to shafts 35 which extend through and are journaled in the sides of the tank I1, said shafts having secured thereto at one side of the tank I! arms 33 having weights 33c at one end having spaced arms with cylindrical bosses or hubs 33a and 361) at their end portions, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Shafts 35 at their other ends have respectively secured thereto arms 31 having weights 31c at their outer ends and having arms extending in diverging relation in the general direction of the arm carrying weight 31c and also having at their ends cylindrical projections or bosses 31a and 31b respectively. As stated, the shafts 35 are journaled in the sides of the tank I! and it will be seen that when these shafts are rotated, the receptacles 33 will rotate about the axis of said shafts so as to move out of the vessels I3 and be'disposed in position over the next adjacent vessel. Plate 22 has a portable screen or foraminated member 33 adapted to receive prints so that liquid may drain from the prints through said member onto plate 22. It will be seen that the endmost' receptacle 33 is s'wingable to position over member 39 as shown in Fig. 6. The arms 34 have bosses 34a on their upper sides and these are adapted to engage the top portion of the rubber vessel or lining of the adjacent vessel when the receptacles 33 are swung to discharging position in order to limit the swinging movement of said receptacles. Stop memb rs 43 are provided for the arms "on the endmostbasket at the right as seen in Fig. 6, which stop members are supported by the walls of the tank i|. The tank II has secured at one side thereof and at the outer side thereof studs 4! and 42 forming journals for sprocket wheels 43 and 44 respectively, over which runs a chain 45, said chain also running over another sprocket wheel 48 disposed some distance below the sprocket wheel 43 and vertically alined therewith, said sprocket wheel 46 being secured to the outer end of a shaft 41 journalled in a bearing 43 bolted to i the bottom of a channel or trough-like plate 49 which extends beneath one end of the tank i1 and some: distance upwardly at the sides of said tank as shown in Fig. 5. Said shaft is also journalled in a bearing 59a. depending'from an annular bracket 50 secured to the bottom of plate 43.. 'A collar 5i is secured to shaft 41 adjacent bracket 43 :to prevent lengthwise movement of said shaft (see Figs. 5 and 7). Chain 45 has a projection 45a extending outwardly fromone of 'itslinks for a purpose to be later described. An angle bar 45b is scoured to the outer side of tank if and supports the upper run of chain 45. The

chain 45 has secured thereto a dog or cam-like member 52 shown in Fig. 2 which is illustrated as of wedge-shape, and said member has an offset 52a in its top side with a very slight incline hi the rear thereof (see Fig. 10). Another dog 53 is secured to chain 45 a short distance from the dog 52. The members 52 and are adapted to respectively engage with members 38b and'35a on the arms 36 in the movement of the chain 45.

The tank I! at its other side has secured thereto studs 54 and 55 forming the journals for sprockets 56 and 51 over which runs a chain 58, said chain also running over a sprocket 59 disposed some distance below and vertically alined with sprocket 51,

which sprocket 59 is secured to the end of shaft 59 journaled in a bearing or bracket 5| which is bolted to the bottom of plate 49. An angle bar 33a secured to tank il forms a support for the upper run of chain 53. Shaft is also journaled in a bearing 53b depending from the annular ring 50 at the side opposite bearing 50a. Chain 53 has secured thereto six pairs of spaced dogs 52 and 33 adapted attimes to engage with the projections 31a and 31b respectively on the arms 31. The-shafts 41 and 53 have secured at their inner ends within the annular portion of bearing 53 beveled 54 and 85 respectively. These gears mesh with another beveled-gear 33 which is secured to. a shaft 31 journaled in bearings "descending from annular bracket 53, said shaft '31 having splined thereto a, half-clutch member 33 adapted to engage with another haII clutch member 33 in turn secured to a shaft 13. 'Shaft 31 has its end joumaled in a bearing in shaft I3. Acollar 31a is pinned to 311 and abuts end bearing 53c. Clutch member .33Ihas secured thereto a clutch collar II engagedby the forked end of a lever 12 fulcrumed on'a pivot 13 depending from the plate 49, which, lever has upstanding from its other end spin 14 on which is joumaled a roller I5; The shaft 13 is connected by a coupling 13 to another shaft .11 in .turn secured to a worm wheel gear 18 meshing with a worm gear 13, both housed in a casing 33 having bearings for shaft I1 therein, worm gear 13 being secured to a'shaft 19a projecting from. casing 30 to which is secured a grooved pulley II. A belt 32 runs over pulley 3| and over another pulley 33 secured to the armature shaft of a motor 34 mounted on a plate 33 which extends between and issecured to the lower flanges of the channel members l3. Shaft 11 at the side of the casing 3 opposite coupling 13 has secured thereto a crank arm 33 having a projecting crank pin 31.- This crank pin extends into a block. While block 33 may be made of various materials, in practice it has been found to be very effective to have it of oil-impregnated cured by bolts 33 to an angle member 3! extending between and secured to the channel'members l3. Bracket 33 has elongated slots therein through which bolts "pass, so that said bracket may be adjusted transversely of the machine.

Shaft 13 has secured thereto a cam 32 can 32 has a periphery eccentric to said shaft and' is disposed between a pair of blocks 33 secured to a bar 94 reciprocable in a pair of guide brackets 95 secured to the bottom of plate 43. Bar 34 adjacent one end has secured thereto afp'awl 33 arrangedto engage with the ratchet teeth on a ratchet wheel 91. Wheel 31 has at one side a cam or convex projection 91a with which pawl 95 is adapted attimes to engage, and be moved out of the path of the teeth onsaid ratchet, so that it cannot propel said ratchet wheel. Ratchet wheel 31 is in the form of an annular plate and has an inner rim or'surface 31b with which roller 15 on lever I2 already described engages. Roller 15 is held against the surface 91b by a tensile spring 93 secured to plate 43 at one end and to lever 12 at its-other end.- Surface 31b has at one point which is substantially opposite projection 31a, a recess 91c, as shown in Fig. 7, said recess having a curved wall atone end and tapering toward surface 910 at its other end. Ratchet wheel 91 revolves on a stud 91d secured in plate 49 and is engaged at times by another pawl 33 carried on a bar I09 secured to the lower end of -lever IN pivoted at if, said lever having its lower part through which pivot ll: passes and an upper part "2a bolted to the lower part through a pair of holes lllb. Lever I34 has a similar pair of holes I040 and the portion Illa can be transferred from lever Ill to the lever I34 when desired to vary the operation of the machine. The pivots I32 and III are secured in the side of plate 43. Bolt "3a forms a stop for lever I34 and pawl 33 thus also forms a stop or holding pawl for ratchet wheel 31.

A hood I36 is provided at one end of the machine which extends between the plates 23 and has side portions resting on the flanges Ila within the flanges 23a. This hood is substantially of rectangular form having an open lower side and is of a length to extend from one end of tank ll to a point some distance beyond the second vessel 25. A pair of plates III are provided, one at each side of the tank ll, the same having spaced rollers Ill secured thereto, the same being journaled on shafts I33 secured in said plates. Rollers ill roll on flanges Ila. A rod Ill extends between plates iill adjacent their tops, the same having iournaled on its outer ends rollers Ill adapted to engage the under side of the top of hood I". A partition or curtain 2 depends from rod III to a point adjacent the top of vessels 2!, the lower edge being disposed above the top of shafts 35. Links H3 are connected respectively to arms 34 on the end receptacle and to the lower portion of plates ill. Links 3 have their ends bent at right angles and extending through said plates, said ends being held therein by the split keys I I4. I

In operation the liquids for treating the photographic prints are placed in the vessels 25. While these liquids may be variously placed, in the embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 6, a short-stopsolution is used, placed in the vessel 25 at the left, or a pipe is extended to this vessel and fresh water circulated therein, flxing solutions are placed in the second and third vessels 2! from the left, and washing liquid or water is placed in the three vessels at the right. The prints are deposited in the receptacle 3 3 at the left hand end of the machine. Motor 84 is driven and this, through belt 82 drives pulley 3| and shaft 13a. Shaft 190. through the worm gear I3 and worm wheel gear 13 drives shaft 11.. Crank I6 is rotated with shaft 11 and crank pin 31, operating on block 83, causes shaft 11, housing 33 and plate 43 to which it is connected, together with the other parts secured thereto, to oscillate about the pivot bolts It. The oscillating movement is indicated in Fig. 4 by the fullline and dotted line position of these parts. It will be seen that bracket 89 is secured to the stationary frame so that it cannot move and the reaction through crank 86 thus oscillates plate 43, tank Ila. and all parts carried on the pivot bolt l6. The

liquid in the vessels 25 is thus agitated and flows from one side of the machine to the other, thus effectively acting on the prints in the liquid. Liquid is supplied to the three vessels at the right shown in Fig, 6 through the pipe 23 and with eachreciprocation of the machine, some of the liquid passes out through the overflow 250 into tank I1 and drains out through pipe 32. The rotation of shaft 'l'l rotates cams 92 and this reciprocates bar 34 so that pawl 96 rotates ratchet wheel 91. Roller 15 is held against the surface or rim 31b and this holds the clutch members 63 and 63 out of engagement. It will be seen that spring 33 tends to move lever It to engage said clutch members, but the lever cannot :move on account of roller I5 engaging surface 310. The ratchet 31 continues to revolve, as the prints are being acted on by the liquid, and recess 310 is moved with the rotation until it comes opposite roller II. when this occurs, roller 13 is pulled into the recess 31c by spring 38 and this allows sufllcient movement of the lever 12 to engage clutch members 63 and 69. At the time that roller 13 drops into recess 31c, the projection or cam 31a. moves beneath pawl 36 and said pawl is held out of the path of the ratchet teeth so that it cannot act on the ratchet teeth and move ratchet wheel 31, and bar 34 and pawl 36 merely reciprocate idly. When clutch members 33 and 63 are engaged, shaft 61 is rotated, rotating the beveled gears 33, 65 and 64. This rotates shafts 41 and 63, thus rotating sprockets 46 and i3 and causing the chains 43 and 53 to travel on their sprockets. It will be seen that these chains move in opposite directions due to the fact that the beveled gears 64 and 65 are at opposite sides of the beveled gear 66. As chain 45 moves in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, member I2 engages the portion 36a of the arm 36 attached to the first receptacle 33 at the left. The projection 33a is moved to the .right and this swings the receptacle 33 attached to the shaft 35, car-' rying said receptacle 33 upward out of its vessel 23. As arm 36' is thus swung, portion 33b is brought into the path of projection 33 and this engages said portion 36b of arm 36 and continues the rotation of said am and of receptacle 33.

The receptacle 33 is thus moved sufliciently far to move past the vertical center of the shaft 35, and its weight, together with the weight of member 33c, causes the basket to swing to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Arm 36 is thus in position with the weight 36c hanging downward as shown in Fig. 2. The projections 34a of the arms 34 strike the stop members 40 and the blow of this'engagement causes the prints in recepta cle 33 to be discharged therefrom and said prints drop upon the drain member 39. -When arm 36 is thus swung by the members 52 and 53, the arm 31 at the other end of shaft 35 was, of course, also swung, and its weight 310 assisted in the swinging movement of the receptacle 33. The arm 31 moved to the position shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1. A short interval after the receptacle 33 reached the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the projection 62 engages portion 31a of arm 31 and swings said arm in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1. After portion 31a is moved, portion 31b comes into the path of dog member 63 and arm 31 is further rotated until receptacle 33 again swings in a counter-clockwise direction past the vertical center of the shaft 35 and said receptacle then swings downward into the receptacle 25 and into the liquid therein and is again in its normal print receiving position. Said receptacle is now in position to receive the prints from the next receptacle at the left as shown in Fig. 6. The dog 52 continues to move with chain 45 and after quite a short interval engages the portions 36a and 36b of the next arm which moves the second receptacle from the right as seen in Fig. 6. Said receptacle is thus moved to discharging position and swings past the center of its shaft 35 due to the weight of the weight portions 36c and 310 and the same drops todischarging position somewhat below the position shown in dotted lines at'the left of- Fig. 6, with the portion 340 engaging the top of the'rubber vessel or lining at the right As said portion 34a strikes the top of said vessel or lining, which is" of rubber composition, the jar or blow causesthe prints in receptacle 33 to drop into the receptacle 33 in the first vessel 25 at the right, which, as above stated, has now been returned to normal position; when the second receptacle 33 was moved to discharging position, the arm 31 at the other end of shaft 35 from the arm 36 also was moved and it is almost immediately engaged by another pair of dogs 62 and 63 and returned to normal position as above described. In the continued movement of chain 45 the arms 36 are successively e ed by members 52 and 53 and the receptacles 33 are thus successively moved to discharging position to discharge the prints therein into the next adjacent receptacle and are immediately returned to normal position. Two of the dogs 62 and 53 as well as of the dogs 62 and 63 are used, engaging the projections on arms 36 and 31 so that a uniform movement of the arms will be had. These dogs act somewhat as a rack engaging its gear, the projections 36a, 36b, 31a and 31b acting as the gear teeth. There is thus less frictional movement between the parts and less mechanical disadvantage than if only one dog were used. Wedge dog 52 moves lever 36 gradually at first, thus starting the basket very gradually. As boss 36a moves over ofiset 52a, basket 33 is given a vibration. It is now out of the liquid and this vibration tends to shake liquid therefrom. It then moves very little during the further engagement of the wedge 52 and projection 36a, so that it may be further drained. Furthermore, it is sometimes desired to have the chain 45 stopped with the member 52 resting under the projection 36b of the last arm 36 engaged. This lifts receptacle 33 out of the liquid and holds the same in this draining position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. This is desired when a special solution is used in the last vessel 25. In certain operations a glazing operation is used in this vessel and it is not desired to leave the prints in this solution during the interval between the discharging operations of the receptacles. When the last receptacle at the left of Fig. 6 has been moved to discharging position and returned to normal position in the vessel, the projection 45a engages the upper end of lever IOI. This swings said lever to the right at its stop as shown in Fig. 2 and moves the lower end, together with bar I to the left as seen in Fig. 2. This movement of bar .I-00 moves pawl 99 so that the same propels ratchet wheel 91 and gives the same a suflicient rotation to move cam 910. from under pawl 96. Pawl 91 is thus in position to again engage the teeth of ratchet 91 and rotate the same. Ratchet 91 thus again begins to rotate and roller is moved out of the recess 910. This moveslever 12. through the roller 15 and clutch members 68 and 69 are separated so that shaft 61 is no longer driven and chains 45 and 50 come to a stop. The chains will remain idle until ratchet wheel 91 makes another revolution and the roller 15 drops into the recess 91c.

In one embodiment of the invention, in practice, the cam 91 makes a revolution about every four minutes. The prints are thus washed in the various vessels 25 for this length of time. It takes between one and two minutes for the chains to move through a cycle and for all of the receptacles to be moved to and from discharging position. The machine therefore passes through a complete cycle in about six minutes.

' When the machine has the end shown at the left hand side in Fig. 6 adjacent the dark room, the opening into the latter and the prints in the first vessel 25 at the left are shielded from the light by hood I06 and the partition or curtain II2. When'the receptacle 33 in this vessel is moved to discharging position, links I I3 push on the plates I01 and these roll along on rollers I08, bringing the partition II2 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Plates I01 are kept from rising by the rollers III engaging the top of the hood I06. When the receptacle swings back to normal position in the end vessel, the plates I01 and partition II2 are moved back into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. The shielding effect is thus maintained while receptacle 33 is going through its discharging movement.

In Fig. 8 a modified construction is shown adapted to replace that comprised in members I00, IM and I04. Instead of having the bar I00, a lever H6 is used, fulcrumed on a stud II1 secured to the outer side of the plate 49. Lever I16 comprises a weighted portion 6:1, and an arm II6b, said arm having thereon a pawl mem-. ber II8 which will be in position to engage the ratchet wheel 91 and replace pawl 99. Lever II6 has a depending arm 60 which extends along the side of the chain 45, the same being adjacent the lower run of said chain. A stop member I I9 is secured in the side of plate 49 which preferably will be made from or covered with rubber. When lever H6 is used, the member 52 is provided with an outwardly projecting pin I20.

In operation, when ratchet wheel 91 is in position with the cam 91a under the pawl 96 and member 52 has operated the last arm at the right as shown in Fig. 2, it will move downwardly at the vertical portion of the chain and will then move upwardly and pin I will engage arm I I6c of lever II6. Lever I I6 will be swung about its fulcrum and pawl II8 will be moved to the left as seen in Fig. 8 and this will turn ratchet 91 sufiiciently to move cam 91a from under pawl 96. When the chain is moved far enough for pin I20 to clear arm II6c, weight lI6a will swing lever H6 and arm II6b will engage the stop H9. The lever will remain in this position until again engaged by pin I20. Lever II6 cannot move counter-clockwise and pawl I I8 thus acts as a stop pawl for ratchet wheel 91. The construction shown in Fig. '8 is much simpler than that shown in Fig. 2 and comprises much fewer parts. However, the variation in the operation of the machine is not possible that is possible with the structure shown in Fig. 2. It is, as stated above, sometimes desirable to stop the machine with the receptacle 33 in the dotted line position shown at the right in Fig. 6. When this is done, the chain 45 is stopped with member 52 engaging the portion 360. of the arm 36 which is at the left as shown in Fig. 2 or at the right as shown in Fig. 6. The-member 45a is then disposed quite a distance in the rear of member 52 on chain 45 so that it engages lever IN a short time before member 52 comes into engagement with said portion 36b.

The plates'20 can be readily lifted from their supports and guideways at the sides of the ma- 'chine to quickly give access to the chains and parts associated therewith.

period and the machine then operates to advance the prints to the next vessel without any intervention by the operator. After the prints have been discharged onto the drain member 39 they can be removed at the desired times and at the will of the operator. It will be noted that the driving member is on the stationary part of the frame so that there are no electrical conductors which partake of the movement of the machine. The objection of the underwriters to having conductors which are constantly moved, is thus eliminated. The parts of the machine are few and simple and the operation thereof is very eflicient. The machine is rugged and durable and requires practically. no attention for maintenance of operation. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and eflicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims. As above stated, the apparatus can be used to handle various articles which are to be progressed through treating liquids. Such liquids might comprise cleansing, washing, or dyeing liquids in which diiferent articles would be treated.

What is claimed is:--

1. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a series of liquid holding vessels, a. receptacle pervious to liquids in each of said vessels for supporting articles in the liquid therein, said receptacles being movable from their respective vessels into discharging position, means for so moving said receptacles, and means for agitating said liquid and articles.

2. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a support, a plurality of liquid holding vessels mounted on said support, a foraminated receptacle in each of said vessels for containing articles disposed in theliquid therein, said receptacles being movable from their respective vessels into position for transferring articles into the adjacent receptacle, means for so moving said receptacles, and means for moving said support and vessels to agitate the articles and liquid in said vessels.

3. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a supporting member, a pair of liquid holding vessels mounted on said member, a foraminated receptacle in each of said vessels for containing articles in the liquid therein, said receptacles being movable from said vessels into position to discharge articles over the edge of said vessels, one of said receptacles in one of said vessels being movable into position to discharge into the other receptacle, means for successively moving said receptacles to discharge the articles therein, and means for reciprocating said supporting member to agitate the liquid and articles in said vessels.

4. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a liquid holding vessel, a foraminated receptacle therein normally held in substantially horizontal position for'containing articles in the liquid therein, said receptacle being movable from said vessel into a substantially inverted position to dump the articles therein to another foraminated member adjacent said vessel inclined towards vessel and disposed below said receptacle when in inverted position, means for so moving said receptacle. and means for delivering articles to said receptacle when in position in said vessel.

5. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a series of adjacent liquid holding vessels containing solutions in which an article is to be successively treated, a receptacle in each of said vessels for containing articles submerged in the liquid therein, means for oscillating said vessels to agitate the liquid and articles therein, means for successively moving said receptacles to position to discharge the articles therein from their respective vessels into the receptacle in the adjacent vessel, and means for actuating said last mentioned means at certain times and rendering the same inoperative between said times.

6. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in comibnation, a plurality of vessels having therein respectively various treating liquids in which the article is to be successively treated, means for agitating the articles and liquids in said vessels, and means for successively discharging the articles from one vessel mto the next adjacent vessel at definite periods.

7. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of vessels containing respectively various treating liquids in which the article is to be successvely treated, means for agitating the article and liquids in said vessels, an article carrying means for each vessel, and means for successively moving said article carrying means from said vessels to discharge the article therefrom.

8. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a tank a number of vessels therein including a plurality of vessels containing treating liquids for articles means for supplying liquids to said last men tioned vessels, said last mentioned vessels having overflow means communicating with said tank means for oscillating said tank and vessels for agitating the articles and liquids in said vessels and means for transferring articles from one ves: sel into the next adjacent vessel at/ definite intervals.

9. machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a supporting member, a plurality of liquid carrying vessels carried thereby, article carrying receptacles in said vessels arranged for swinging movement to transfer articles therein into the next ad acent vessel, an arm connected to each of said receptacles for swinging the same to discharge articles, a second arm secured to each of said receptacles for swinging the same back to normal position, and means movable respectively to engage said arms successively to move said receptacles to discharging positions and subsequently to move them successively to normal position, and means for actuating said last mentioned means at definite intervals.

' 10. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a tank, a plurality of liquid receiving vessels carried in said tank, a receptacle in each vessel for containing articles disposed in the liquid therein arms secured respectively to said receptacles for swinging said receptacles from said vessels to discharging position, an endless member movable at the side of said tank having means for successively engaging said arms to swing said receptacles, means for driving said endless memher and timing mechanism for actuating said driving means at definite intervals.

11. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, two liquid receiving vessels, receptacles disposed respectively therein for containing articles in the liquid therein, means for moving the receptacle in one of said vessels to discharge the articles therefrom, a member shielding said vessel from light, and means for moving said member toward said other vessel when said first mentioned receptacle is moved to maintain the shielding eil'ect.

12. A machine forhandling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a stationary frame, an oscillating supporting member, a plurality of vessels carried by said supporting member, receptacles disposed respectively in said vessels, means on said supporting member for oscillating the same including a pulley, a motor on said frame having a pulley thereon, and an endless belt connecting said pulleys.

13. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of liquid receiving vessels, receptacles disposed respectively in said vessels for containing articles disposed in the liquid therein, arms secured.respectively to said receptacles having counter weights thereon, a member movable adjacent said arms, and means on said member for respectively swinging said arms into position where they will be moved by gravity to move said receptacle to discharging position.

14. The structure set forth in claim 17, a second set of arms respectively secured to said receptacles, a second member movable adjacent said second arms, and means on said second member for successively engaging said arms to move said receptacles into position so that they will return to normal position by gravity.

15. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of liquid holding vessels, means in each of said vessels for receiving articles and movable to transfer said articles to the nextadiacent vessel, endless members for moving said means, a timing mechanism controlling said endless members. means for driving said timing mechanism until said endless member is actuated for a certain period and then rendering the same inoperative, and means actuated by said endless member to again render said timing mechanism operative.

16. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of liquid holding vessels, means in each of said vessels for receiving a plurality of articles and movable to transfer all of said articles substantially simultaneously to the next adjacent vessel, an endless member for successively moving said means, and means for intermittently actuating said endless member. 7

17. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a liquid holding vessel, a receptacle in said vessel for containing articles disposed in the liquid therein, a pivot about the axis of which said receptacle is swingable to discharge articles therefrom, an arm secured to said pivot, a weight on said arm, and means engageable'with said arm'to swing said arm and said weight to position so that said receptacle and weight will fall by gravity to discharging position.

18. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a liquid holding vessel, a receptacle therein for containing articles disposed in the liquid therein, a pivot about the axis of which said receptacle is swingable to move to discharging position, amember secured to said pivot, and an endless member having means thereon for engaging said member to swing said receptacle to discharging position.

19. A machine for handling articles in treating liquids having in combination, an elongated tank,

without said compartments, to dump articles from one receptacle to another and means for simultaneously rocking said tank to agitate the liquid in said compartments.

20. A machine for handling articles in treating liquids having in combination a tank, a series of compartmentshaving bottoms spaced above the bottom of said tank and adapted to contain liquid, means for transferring articles submerged in one compartment to the next compartment, means for supplying liquid to a plurality of said compartments, over-flow means from said latter compartments to the tank, drain means leading from said tank, and means for oscillating said tank to agitate the liquid in said compartments.

21. A machine for handling articles in treating liquids having in combination a pair of liquid containers, a foraminous receptacle in each container for holding articles submerged in the liquid therein, a shield for excluding light from one container and receptacle, said shield being movable, means for moving said last mentioned receptacle to discharge articles therein into the receptacle, including a member secured to said receptacle, and means connecting said member and shield for moving said shield when said receptacle is moved.

22. A machine for handling articles in treating liquids having in combination a liquid container, a foraminated receptacle therein, movable upwardly and out of said container and to discharging position, means for moving said receptacle upwardly out of said liquid gradually, then vibrating said receptacle to shake liquid therefrom and from the articles therein and then moving it to discharging position.

23. A machine for handling articles in treating liquids having in combination, a liquid container and foraminated receptacle therein, movable upwardly and out of said container and to discharging position, and means for moving said receptacle upwardly out of said liquid and to substantially inverted discharging position, said receptacle engaging a member substantially at discharging position to give a shock to said receptacle to cause articles to drop therefrom.

24. A machine for handling articles throughtreating liquids having in combination, a supporting member, a plurality of adjacent liquidcarrying'vessels supported thereby, article-carrying receptacles in said vessels each constructed and arranged for swinging movement to transfer articles therein into the next adjacent receptacle, a member connected to each of said receptacles for swinging the same to discharge said articles, a second member secured to each of saidrecep- .tacles for swinging the same back to normal position and movable means for respectively engaging said members to successively move said receptacles to discharging and normal positions.

25. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of adjacent liquid-receiving vessels, a receptacle in each vessel tor containing articles disposed in the liquid therein movable'to discharging position to discharge said articles into the next adjacent receptacle, an endless member moving adjacent said vessels and means on said receptacles engaged by said endless member to swing said receptacles to discharging position.

26. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality of liquid-holding vessels, means in each or said vessels for receiving articles and movable to transfer said articles to the next adjacent vessel and endless members movable adjacent said vessels for moving said means to positions to transfer said articles and back to receiving positions' in said vessels.

27. A machine for handling articles through treating liquids having in combination, a plurality' of liquid-receiving vessels, a receptacle disposed respectively in each of said vessels for containing articles disposed in the liquid therein and swingable out of said vessel to substantially inverted discharging position, means for swinging said receptacle t0 discharging position including a gravity-actuating member adapted to move said receptacle through a certain part of its movement.

JOHN W. HOUCH.

GLEN M. DYE. 

